Radio-frequency energy transfer switch



Oct. 20, 1953 L. E. BOLLINGER 2,656,443

' RADIO-FREQUENCY ENERGY TRANSFER SWITCH Filed Jan. 50, 1953 2Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR.

wag/v 5 BOILL/NGER ATTYS Oct. 20, 1953 L. E. BOLLINGER RADIO-FREQUENCYENERGY TRANSFER SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J .Qb I r Filed Jan. 50 1955INVENTOR. LURE/V E. BULL/N65 I66 ATT rs Patented Oct. 20, 1953 RADIO-.FREQUENCY ENERGY TRANSFER SWITCH Loren E. Bollinger, Columbus, Ohio,assignor, by mesne assignments, to the United States of America asrepresented by the Secretary of theNavy Application January 30, 1953,Serial No. 334,346

7 'Claims. 1

This invention broadly relates to switching apparatus; moreparticularly, this invention relates to a switching apparatus for usewith radio-frequency energy of appreciable power levels when coolingproblems exist.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedswitching apparatus which is more inexpensive and of simpler con--struction than existing devices of a similar type.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel radio-frequencytransfer switch which is capable of handling energies of largemagnitudes without undue heating of a switching apparatus.

A still further object of the invention is. to provide a novel switchingapparatus which is capable of selectively connecting one electricalconductor to another in a most expeditious and efiicient manner.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel switchingapparatus for use with water-cooled conductors where very high energy,radio-frequency currents are involved.

Other objects and a clear description of the invention may be obtainedfrom the specification to follow, the claims, and the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 shows the switching unit of this invention;

Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of the switchingapparatus shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 3 shows a plurality of switch units as shown, in Figure 1supported on a rack or base member.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the apparatus of theinvention includes a switch housing l made of an insulating material,such as Lucite, having a cavity 13 therein which is closed on the topthereof by a cap ll. screwable into the threaded top portion of cavityl3. A hollow electrical conductor l4 passes through the housing and thelower portion of cavity [3. A second electrical conductor [2 passesthrough the housing 10 and cavity l3 above electrical conductor l4 andpreferably at a different angle relative thereto to avoid anyinterference between the conductors.

An opening 9 is. located in the bottom of housing I!) to communicatewith cavity H3 in order that a conducting fluid may be fed to andemptied from cavity l3. A rigid conduit section l6 passes throughopening 9 and communicates with a supply bulb 32 through a flexiblerubber conduit 28.

in the top portion of cavity l3 in order that Mercury is a suitableconducting fluid. In such case, a vent opening is. made,

mercury vapor may be returned to the mercury supply bulb 32 rather thanbe vented to the air which might endanger operating personnel. A rigidconduit section I8 is fixedly inserted in the vent opening I5 and isconnected to a flexible rubber conduit 30 which communicates with thetop portion of the mercury supply bulb 32.

Electrical conductors l2 and [4 are respectively made hollow so that acooling fluid such as water may be passed through the center thereof.The walls of the conductor may be made of metal, so that they areelectrically conductive. -Water is circulated through the conductors byconnecting suitable nonconductive flexible hosings 24 and 25respectively to the ends of the electrical conduit 14 and nonconductiveconduits 20 and 22 are respectively connected to the ends of theelectrical conductor l2. Suitable electrical' contact with conductors l2and 1 may be made by similar tubing or with other suitable electricalconductors, such as 36 and 38, respectively, connected to electricalconductors l2 and I4.

The operation of the switch device as shown may be explained as follows:

First of all, the object of the switching apparatus-shown is toelectrically connect conductors l2 and M together when it is desiredthat the switch be in the closed position. To effect this result, thesupply bulb 32 is partially filled with mercury; then the variousconnections to the supply bulb are made as shown in Figure 1, so thatthe vent opening l5 is connected to the top portion of the bulb 32, andconduit 28 connects with the rigid conduit It in the opening 9 at thebottom of housing I0 and also to the neck or opening of the bulb 32 atthe other end thereof. Mercury bulb 32 is inverted, so that the openneck portion thereof is facing downward. When the mercury supply bulb 32is lowered to a position below housing 10, then the mercury will not, ofcourse, enter the cavity I3 of. housing If]. When, however, the bulb israised to a position such that the level of mercury therein isappreciably above top conductor l2, then mercury will enter the housing[0 and. will fill in the space between the conductors l2 and I4 therebymaking electrical connection there' between. The water flowing toconductors l2 and I4. cools the conductors, and also the mercury andsurrounding portions. of the switch housing Ill.

In this example, where the housing lil is made of Lucite and appreciablecurrents are involved, if power were applied to the circuit before themercury filled in the space between conductors i2 and i i, the resultantarc would probably melt the Lucite housing Ill. Therefore, in thisexample, the power is actually not turned on (it is turned on by someother external means) until the mercury has filled in the space betweenthe conductors i2 and :4 Within the cavity 13. For this example, theswitches are not used to turn power on and off but rather are used as ameans of selectively connecting one of a plurality of components into anelectrical circuit. For example, in a radio circuit, a switch such asshown in Figure 1 may be used in series with each of a plurality ofinductance coils used as frequencydetermining elements to selectivelyinsert the proper coil in the associated circuit.

Where it is desired to use the switch unit shown in Figure l as a meansof turning power on and oi, the current and voltage should be limited tosuch a value that a destructive inercury arc will not form or a means toquench the mercury arc should be provided together with theconsideration that the switch housing it should be made of a materialwhich will withstand high temperature such as ceramic material known forits high heat resistance.

Reference should now be made to Figure 3 which shows a mountingapparatus for use with a plurality of switching units as shown inFigure 1. The support apparatus there shown resembles an inverted boxand has a horizontal support member i l on which the various switchhousings lEia, 5%, ice, and Hid are suitably mounted. The housing ispreferably made of an insulating material to reduce the possibility ofshort circuits.

An efficient switch and conductor cooling system is provided byinterconnecting electrical conductors Eda, 422, 30 and 14d together bysuitable conduits. Thus, conduit 47 communicates with one end ofconductor [4a associated with switch housing Eda and an inlet junctionmember 55. Conduit 3's must be an electrical conductor, since it carrieselectrical power arriving at connection 55 to conductor Ma. Inlet 55serves as a power inlet as Well as a water inlet. Connection is usuallymade with hollow copper tubing (thus supplying power and water) from thepower source to inlet 55. A rubber hose section 53 extends from theother end of conductor I ia to one end of conductor Md of adjacentswitch housing hid. A conduit 49 extends between the other end ofconductor Hid and an outlet junction member 5%. Conduit 49 must be anelectrical conductor for the same reasons as referred to above. Conduit47! connects with inlet junction member 55 and one end of conductor i ibof switch housing ifib. Conduit 4'! must be an electrical conductor forthe same reasons as referenced above. Another rubber hose section 53'connects between the other end of conductor ib and one end of conductorMe of adjaeent switch housing iisc. Conduit 49' connects the other endof conductor M0 to outlet junction member Conduit 49 must be anelectrical conductor for the same reasons as referenced above. Inletjunction member 55 is connected to a suitable source of cooling liquidunder pressure and outlet junction member 59 may communicate with adrain or to the liquid source itself. Inlet junction member 55 serves asan inlet connection for water and electrical energy. Outlet junction 59serves as an outlet connection for water and return connection forelectrical energy. Water passing through the conduit system justdescribed cools the conductors and also the switch housing 10. Althoughnot shown in the drawings, conduits l2a, I21), 220, and [2d aresimilarly connected.

Extending downwardly from two opposite sides of horizontal supportmember 44 are vertical wall members 46 and 46 which act as supportinglegs for the structure. At the opposite ends of the horizontal platemember 44 are upwardly extending plate members 48 and 48, respectively,which connect with vertical side plate members 43 and 46' to formrespective housings in which the mercury supply bulbs associated witheach switch housing may be supported. These two mercury supply bulbssupport housings each have two horizontal shelves 50, 52, 58, and 52',respectively. Each of the shelves include a suitably sized opening, suchas 54-54, SIS-56, 60-68, and 62B2' for each supply bulb. The level ofthe upper shelves 50 and 50 is such that the level of the mercury in thebulbs supported therein is above the upper space between the electricalconductors of the associated housing. This will cause mercury to fill inthe space between the conductors of the associated housing to cause theswitch to be in the closed position. The lower shelves 52 and 52,respectively, located at a level beneath the electrical conductors ofthe housings, so that when the mercury supply bulbs are supported atthis level, mercury will not enter the housing at a sufficient level toconnect the space between the conductors of each housing. In order toreadily insert the bulbs into the openingaveach opening communicatedwith the outer portion of the structure by means of suitable slots, suchas 55, 51, 55, and 51', etc. Normally, the mercury supply bulbs aresupported on the lower shelves 52-52. When it is desired to close aparticular switch, the mercury supply bulb associated with such switchis slid into the nearest opening in the upper shelf. The neck portion ofthe bulbs shown in the drawings are made sufiiciently narrow to slide inone of the slots associated with the support openings just described.

The invention provides a very convenient and efficient switch unit foruse with electrical currents of high magnitudes where a heating problemexists.

It should be understood that numerous modifications may be made of thespecific and preferred embodiments of the invention without deviatingfrom the broader and more generic aspects of the invention.

I claim:

1. A switch device comprising a hollow housing made of an insulatingmaterial, two hollow separated electrical conductors passing through thehollow portion of said housing, an opening in the bottom of the hollowportion of said housing, means communicating with said latte opening forselectively filling emptying the portion of said hollow housingextending between said separated ccnductors through said opening with ahighly conductive fluid whereby said conductors may be respectivelyelectrically connected and disconnected.

2. A switch device comprising a hollow housing made of an insulatingmaterial, two hollow separated electrical conductors passing through thehollow portion of said housing, means fo directing a cooling fluid intothe hollow portion of said conductors whereby said conductors arecooled, an opening in the bottom of the hollow portion of said housing,means for communicating with said latter opening for selectively fillingand emptying the portion of said hollow housing extending said separatedconductors through said opening with a highly conductive fluid wherebysaid conductors may be respectively electrically connected anddisconnected.

3. A switch device comprising a housing having a cavity therein, a firsthollow electrical conductor extending through the housing and passingthrough the bottom portion of said hollow cavity, a second hollowelectrical conductor ex tending through the said housing and the cavitytherein above said first conductor, means for passing a cooling fluidthrough said electrical conductors for cooling said conductors, anopening in the wall of said housing communicating with said cavity,means communicating with said latter opening for selectively filling andemptying the portion of the cavity in said housing extending betweensaid separated conductors through said opening with a highly conductivefluid whereby said conductors may be respectively selectivelyelectrically connected and disconnected.

4. A switch device comprising a hollow housing made of an insulatingmaterial, two hollow separated electrical conductors passing through thehollow portion of said housing, an opening in the bottom of the hollowportion of said housing, means communicating with said latter openingfor selectively filling and emptying the portion of said hollow housingextending between said separated conductors through said opening withmercury whereby said conductors may be respectively selectivelyelectrically connected and disconnected.

5. A switch device comprising a hollow housing made of an insulatingmaterial, two hollow separated electrical conductors passing through thehollow portion of said housing, means for directing a cooling fluid intothe hollow portion of said conductors whereby said conductors arecooled, an opening in the bottom of the hollow portion of said housing,means for communicating with said lsatter opening for selectivelyfilling and emptying the portion or said hollow housing extending saidseparated conductors through said opening with mercury whereby saidconductors may be respectively selectively electrically connected anddisconnected.

6. A switch device comprising a housing having a cavity therein, firsthollow electrical conductor extending through the housing and passingthrough the bottom portion of said hollow cavity, a second hollowelectrical conductor extending through the said housing and the cavitytherein above said first conductor, means for passing a cooling fluidthrough said electrical conductors for cooling said conductor, anopening in the wall of said housing communicating with said cavitytherein, means for communicating with said latter opening forselectively filling and emptying the portion of said hollow housingextending conductive said separated conductors through said opening witha highly conductive fluid whereby said conductors may be respectivelyselectively electrically connected and discon nected.

7. A switch device comprising a housing having :a cavity therein made ofan insulating material, a first opening in said housing communicatingwith the bottom portion of the cavity, a second opening in said housingcommunicating with the upper portion of said cavity, a first hollowelectrical conductor passing through said housing and cavity therein, asecond hollow electrical conductor passing through said housing andcavity, said conductor located beneath said second opening, means forpassing a cooling fluid through said hollow conductors, a source ofmercury, means for selectively forcing mercury through said firstopening in said housing to fill up said cavity between said conductorsto electrically couple them together, conduit means coupled between saidsecond opening and said mercury source to vent ofi any mercury vaporcollecting above said conductors.

LOREN E. BOLLINGER.

No references cited.

